8 Lions to Play for WA this Saturday

Subiaco is delighted to announce that they will have a league best eight representatives in the 2018 WAFL State Game when West Australia take on South Australia this Saturday at Adelaide Oval.

Kyal Horsley, Lachlan Delahunty, Aaron Heal, Angus Litherland, Leigh Kitchin, Chris Phelan, Brad Stevenson and Rhys Waters were all named in the final 23 man squad announced by the WAFL today.

Horsley has had a standout start to 2018, averaging 31 possessions per game including a career high 40 touches in his last match against West Perth. Horsley has again led outstandingly from the front in the aftermath of two Grand Final losses and a tumultuous start to the season off field for the Lions.

Subiaco will unveil three state debutants with Litherland, Stevenson and Waters each to play their first game representing WA.

Litherland has improved his game in his second season with the Lions, showing an ability to stop players of all sizes. His defensive job on Claremont key forward Beau Maister earnt Litherland high praise.

“It is a real honour to be selected to represent WA,” Litherland said.

“Really proud that such good club form has resulted in a large Subiaco contingent and looking forward to playing at Adelaide Oval again with my Subi teammates, hopefully in front of a big crowd.”

Meanwhile Stevenson and Waters find themselves one and two for goals at the Lions in 2018, with Stevenson the current leader in the Bernie Naylor Medal.

Stevenson has enjoyed his best season at WAFL level, thriving as the key target in a versatile Subiaco forward line, with Stevenson’s clinical finishing in front of goal proving crucial early in the season.

For Waters, after a year off in 2017, he has returned refreshed and displaying his key traits in front of the goals and with his pressure inside forward 50. Waters has kicked 13 goals and laid 20 tackles in a strong start to the 2018 season.

Kitchin and Delahunty are the two other players along with captain Horsley, from the 2017 winning WA team to play again in 2018, with Kitchin playing in his fourth state game and Delahunty in his third state game.

Kitchin is averaging 21 possessions a game and playing an important complimentary role in the Subiaco midfield while Delahunty has combined as a strong ruck tandem with Zac Clarke, with Delahunty averaging 20 possessions, 13 hitouts and a goal a game so far in 2018.

"It's always a great honour and privlege to represent the WAFL," Kitchin said.

"I'm looking forward to watching some of the Subi boys debut for the black ducks and being there to enjoy the experience with them."

For veterans Heal and Phelan, this will be their second state game and first state game interstate after each played a part in recent WA successes on home soil.

Heal has continued to be a key piece of the Subiaco defence, averaging 15 possessions while Phelan has had an equally strong start to the year in the Subiaco midfield averaging 31 possessions.

All eight will travel to Adelaide today as WA look to win another state contest on Saturday afternoon with the state league contest set to be played in front of a big crowd as the pre-match before the Showdown.

Subiaco would also like to acknowledge and congratulate the two other representatives who were selected to the squad in Jordan Lockyer and Ben Sokol.